Office of the President

Welcome to Cal State LA

At Cal State LA we provide transformative educational experiences through outstanding academic programs and renowned professors and researchers.

Founded in 1947, we are the premier public comprehensive university in the heart of Los Angeles. We have produced nationally and internationally recognized leaders in fields that include business and industry, visual and performing arts, athletics, science and technology, government, and higher education. At Cal State LA we are pushing boundaries, creating new opportunities for discovery and innovation.

The University is enjoying record growth. We have converted from the quarter calendar to the semester calendar, and welcomed the largest class in our history — more than 28,000 students, most of whom are the first in their families to pursue a university degree. We opened Cal State LA Downtown, offering degree and certificate programs in a vibrant section of the city. Through our new general education requirements, thousands of University students pursue civic and service learning in the communities we serve. We’ve established partnerships and programs that have improved and enriched lives across Southern California and beyond. And we’ve launched a new strategic plan focused on student success, academic distinction, and the public good.

Cal State LA’s eight colleges are recognized for outstanding academic programs and small classes, where students are taught and mentored by professors who get to know them as exceptional individuals. We offer 60 undergraduate majors, 55 Master's degree programs and three doctoral programs. We’ve been named by Washington Monthly as one of the top 10 Master’s universities in the nation for our contributions to the public good. This exceptional honor recognizes our dedication to access and success, our campus commitment to public service, and research funding that involves faculty and students in world-changing projects. The National Science Foundation has listed our University as the top supplier of Latino science and engineering Ph.D. recipients among all undergraduate and master’s degree universities in the continental United States. We are a powerful engine of social mobility.

As the first in my family to graduate with a college degree, I am deeply committed to providing opportunities for our students to achieve academic, personal, and professional success. I also want to help our students develop a high regard for the intellectual and cultural diversity that distinguishes Cal State LA.

I invite you to explore our website, visit our University, and consider becoming part of the Cal State LA family.